Why Did Daddy Leave? What To Remember When Your Child Wants To Know

Inevitably in the life of a divorced custodial parent whose partner has left, there is one question that they will have to field more than any other. Why did daddy (or mommy in rarer cases) leave? It can be tempting to inject your own bitterness into the answer of this question, but before you do that, here are some important things you need to remember.

1. Your child carries half the other parent’s DNA.

Even if your son or daughter’s other parent is an absolute scumbag, you have to be very careful with how you address the question from a critical standpoint. After all, half your child’s DNA comes from said scumbag, and kids are smart enough to put two and two together. If their daddy or mommy is a bad apple and that’s reinforced by you, then they’ll start thinking that they are a bad apple.

2. What you say could be used against you.

Any time the mud gets slung, there is always a good chance that it’ll splash back and hit you. If you’ve yet to go through the divorce and you’re still evaluating our online divorce reviews to decide between attorney or DIY service, for instance, then criticisms could find their way into court conflicts and jeopardize your positioning for custody.

3. Responding without negativity will ensure that you’re more likely to raise a positive person.

You don’t want your child to grow up negative and pessimistic, but unfortunately they must fight against that when their world is turned upside down by divorce. They need to learn about positivity and perseverance from you, and how you respond to their question will go a long way in ensuring they turn out the way you want them to.

It can be difficult taking tough questions. As an online divorce review site, we’ve seen how hard it is on our clients. But by taking a deep breath and remembering how much rides on your response, you’ll stand a better chance of saying the right thing when the moment comes. Good luck!